MANUELA MALEEVA-FRAGNIERE: Today I played with a different splint on my
finger than the last match and I was not feeling the ball very well on the
backhands, I didn't dare hitting them. I was afraid of the pain a little bit.
Once I realized that it was okay and that even -- if there is pain I am not
going to hurt more my finger. I just went for all my shots and I think I have
played one of the best tennis I can play.

Q. This wouldn't change your mind; would it?

MANUELA MALEEVA-FRAGNIERE: I cannot think about that right now. Actually, my
dream was to play one more good Grand Slam and retire and maybe it is coming
true.

Q. Were you playing more sliced backhands than two-handers, the normal,
because of the finger?

MANUELA MALEEVA-FRAGNIERE: Yes, I played more and actually it is working out
fine because I had problems on some of her very high lobs and it felt fine with
just the one-handed backhand. I have practiced this. I don't dare always using
it in the match and today I had to.

Q. Have you played Date?

MANUELA MALEEVA-FRAGNIERE: I am playing Date right now?

Q. Yes, right now.

MANUELA MALEEVA-FRAGNIERE: I played her, I think, only once in an exhibition
in the beginning of the year in Australia and I lost to her. It is going to be a
tough match.

Q. Do you know what you will do in terms of tactics?

MANUELA MALEEVA-FRAGNIERE: I just have to keep on playing the way I have
played; going for my shots; not being afraid to win the important points and
anything can happen.

Q. Manuela, do you believe you can retire your career after the U.S. Open or
not after the -- not after the U.S. Open but...

MANUELA MALEEVA-FRAGNIERE: I said I would retire probably after Australia. I
still believe that I can. It feels wonderful when I am playing like I played
this tournament, but I know that I will have some downs also from now on. It is
not going to be every tournament like this, and this is why I have to decide
what I want to do. But you know, right now I don't want to think about it,
retirement. I am still in the tournament and I am enjoying it so much. It really
is like a dream.

Q. Is there any challenge, any competition between -- among you and your
sisters?

MANUELA MALEEVA-FRAGNIERE: No. Each one wants to do the best she can. But we
don't think "I want to be better than my sister." Each one wants to do the best
she can, but for herself.

Q. What is your prediction for the next -- between the sisters?

MANUELA MALEEVA-FRAGNIERE: I have no prediction. I really have no idea what
is going to happen. It is tomorrow, we will see.

Q. Manuela, after you lost the first set so decidedly, were you sort of
thinking how do I say good-bye to this place or were you thinking I still could
have a chance?

MANUELA MALEEVA-FRAGNIERE: I was actually disappointed that I didn't play
better in the first set. I was a little bit anxious of the pain. I was feeling a
little bit nauseous probably from the nervosity and knowing how my finger would
be today without injections. I was more -- I just wanted to go one more time for
my shots. I didn't want to go out losing 6-1, 6-Love. I just wanted to play the
best tennis I can and this is what I thought about.

Q. How is the finger now?

MANUELA MALEEVA-FRAGNIERE: It is sore. But I have one day off, right, so
maybe it will be better for the next match.

Q. I have seen your reaction after winning with her and today was the same,
like you couldn't believe you can win?

MANUELA MALEEVA-FRAGNIERE: It is exactly how I felt. Before I played Hack, my
husband had made reservations for the next flight on Saturday. I mean, I really,
really --

Q. He wanted to go home.

MANUELA MALEEVA-FRAGNIERE: I really thought that there is no chance I could
play. I thought that I would just go on the court and see what can happen and
the same today. I really went on the court not believing that I can really win.
And actually, before I went on the court, my sister Katerina, came to me and she
said good luck. I asked her when are you both playing tomorrow and she said we
are fourth match. And I said oh, good at least I am not going to see it, we will
be flying home. She looked at me and said, what, I said oh, right, I still have
to play, so this is my -- this was what I thought.

Q. Will you watch tomorrow?

MANUELA MALEEVA-FRAGNIERE: I don't think so.

Q. Didn't you remember today on the court the match of your sister yesterday
was, I mean --

MANUELA MALEEVA-FRAGNIERE: She was down --

Q. 6 1...

MANUELA MALEEVA-FRAGNIERE: Yeah. No, I didn't think of her, no.

Q. I mean after the first set?

MANUELA MALEEVA-FRAGNIERE: After the first set?

Q. Yes.

MANUELA MALEEVA-FRAGNIERE: I have been so many times down, I have played so
many matches in my career that I knew that nothing is impossible, so I thought
that I could come back. I mean, I thought that I could play a better set than
the first set. This is what I wanted. It turned out even better.